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Sunday, February 7, 2016

Live Review: Lady Leshurr @ Gramercy Theater

Hip-hop has always been a man's game. The unfortunate truth is that all female rappers have had to be better, faster, stronger and smarter than their male counterparts. Those that strike it big leave a long lasting mark in the genre. From Salt-N-Peppa, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Lil' Kim, among others to contemporaries like Nicki Minaj, MIA, Angel Haze and Azealia Banks have all broken out and proved that anything boys can do, girls can do just as good and in some cases, better.

Now, welcome to the table one that will soon be the new Queen of hip-hop if she stays the course -- Lady Leshurr.

After becoming an underground hip-hop and internet sensation, England's Lady Leshurr made her New York City debut in stunning fashion. The diminutive rapper, singer and producer took the stage to a packed theater and for nearly an hour showed that she is not just a flash-in-the-pan artist. She is here to stay.

The artist from Birmingham, the town that gave the world Black Sabbath, Editors, Duran Duran, UB40 and Godflesh now has an emcee to be proud of.

"I know most of you think I am from London, but I am from Birmingham, I represent my city always," she told the audience. The proud performer, who is of Caribbean decent, brings a flow and cadence that is a cross between Busta Rhymes and Nicki Minaj -- from the spitfire attitude to the grime meets dancehall sound she is providing.

Known for her "Queen Speech" series, which she debuted last year that made her a global sensation, Leshurr, took those catchy hooks of "Change Your Panties," "Brush Your Teeth," "Mad Ting," and turned it into a singalong with the crowd. "It is so funny hearing my songs sung with your American accents," she said.

Doing Acapella freestyles, covers of Chris Brown, Minaj, Biggie Smalls, Jay Z and Busta, plus songs from her mixtape, Lil Bit of Lesh, she broke out all that she could from her arsenal to win the crowd.

She was humbled by how the night turned out and how eclectic the audience was. It was why she made New York City her first stop in America. It was diversity at its finest all united under the sounds of someone who has an unstoppable dream.